Fire Wolf: CINAED (New Scotia Pack Book 3) (2 page)

“Thank you. It’s very exciting. Coming here I mean.”

Luna smiled. “You’re going to love it. Let’s get you settled and talk about dinner.”

“Where are my sisters?” Win asked. “I haven’t met them, you know.

“Inside. Eager to meet you, too.”

Things continued to be chaotic in New Elk Mountain, while everybody concentrated on getting housing up before winter. The crop harvest wouldn’t stretch to feed supplement diets for everyone the first year, but game was plentiful and no one would be hungry.

In a few months it would be time to plant. There was no scarcity of flat fertile land in the valley. All that was required was more able-bodied people to plow, plant, tend, and harvest.

They would need more firewood, but there would be plenty more strong arms to chop and haul.

Ken arrived unexpectedly one day bringing a wagonload of fall corn as a gift from New Scotia. He’d been happy to make the trip so that he could see Win. Win was a little older, but Ken still had fine memories of the summers Win had been in Scotia with the Cu Ahlee clan as a boy. He may have also been partially motivated by the promise of new books and the anticipation of finding out what they were and what they had to say, but that was not the reason he gave his uncles.

It was late afternoon when he arrived because oxen are not just stupid, but slow as well.

“Ken!” Stalkson Grey greeted him enthusiastically. “What have we here?”

“A gift from New Scotia, uncle. Liulf is thinkin’ more corn will be welcome this winter with so many more people to feed.”

“He’s not wrong. A welcome sight it is. Come in. I’ll get somebody to tend the ox.”

Luna wasn’t home from the clinic yet, but Cloud was in the kitchen helping with dinner.”

“Cloud,” Grey said. “Did you ever meet Ken?”

She wiped her hands on her apron. “I’ve not had the pleasure, but of course Win has regaled me with stories from summers with your family.”

Ken nodded politely. “Smells like heaven in here.”

She nodded. “It’s a good thing we have enough for a traveling wolf then.” He smiled, appreciating Cloud’s easy manner and gracious hospitality. “Win and Star are working on the new house.”

His uncle nodded. Ken wondered who Star was, but reasoned that he’d find out soon enough.

“This hale and hardy werewolf is my grandson!” Grey said looking down at the baby sitting in a high chair that was clearly made by hand and with love. “His name is Grey.”

Ken smiled at the boy. “Hello, Grey. Ye’ve got some big shoes to fill.”

The child gave no response other than to study Ken as if he was a lab specimen.

Stalkson Grey said something to Luna’s kitchen help, Landa, about getting her son to take care of the ox. He told her to leave the wagon where it was and spread the word that each family could come and get three ears of corn for each grown person in their household.

Ken was fascinated. “How did ye know how that wagonload would divide amongst your tribe?”

“Eyeballed it and guessed.”

“’
Tis amazin’.”

The king shrugged. “I could be wrong. There may be some left over. If there is, we’ll distribute it based on need.” He reached out and rested his hand on Ken’s shoulder affectionately. “Come into the office. There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

Ken followed his uncle into the messy space that could more likely be called a lair than an office.

After looking both ways down the short hall, Stalkson Grey closed the door and whispered, “How about a before dinner drink? Win brought some Scotch.” When Ken’s eyes got wide, Grey motioned for him to stay quiet. “Don’t worry. I’ll send one back for you and your brothers to share.”

“’
Tis very generous. And aye. I’ll no’ be turnin’ down an offer of Scotch.”

“Unless we figure out how to make it ourselves…”

“This is the first I’ve heard that we might be interested in recreatin’ one of the great pleasures of our homeland.”

“Well, we’ve been preoccupied with survival.”

“True enough. Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?”

“What? Oh, no. No. I wanted to talk to you about an idea that the Council will be discussing at the next Gathering.”

“Very well.” He accepted a short glass with a finger of amber liquid.

“This spring I think we should send an expedition to find out what’s on the other side of that mountain range.” He pointed toward the window with his glass. “My tribe is located closest to the range and, as we found out with the dragons, that makes us most vulnerable to anything that may live on the other side. SilverRuff has confirmed that no one has ever bothered to confirm whether or not it’s inhabited.”

“Huh.”

“Exactly.” Grey took a sip and hissed from the pleasure of smooth whiskey sliding down. “I want to know what’s out there. I think everybody who lives here should want to know. I’m going to make a recommendation next Gathering. Before I do, I was wondering if I could count on you to head it up.”

Ken jerked his full attention to his uncle. “ME!?”

“Yes. It makes sense.”

“How so?”

“You’re unique, Ken. You’re related to three of the four colony alphas. I’m your uncle. Liulf is your brother. And SilverRuff’s daughter is your sister-in-law. Where would we find another wolf who is higher ranking and not an alpha?”

“Conn.”

“That brings me to my second point. Conn is mated with family. You’re not.”

“Ahhhhhh.” Ken set his glass down on the desk and pursed his lips. “So ‘tis no’ a job without peril.”

“It’s a job with risks, but also benefits.”

“What kind of benefits?”

“Accolades and gratitude?”

Ken snorted. “Seriously?”

“I need your agreement before I take my proposal to the Council. You’re a young wolf. How can you say no to a bit of adventure?”

“’
Tis easy. Win brought me books that I can no’ wait to crack.”

“Books?”

Ken narrowed his eyes. “Do no’ pretend ignorance with me, Uncle. I know for a fact that ye’ve been known to appreciate the way words can be strung together.”

“I’m not denying that. Look. I won’t press if you’re truly not interested, but perhaps you’ll think about it overnight?”

“Aye. No harm in that. I’ll give ye an answer in the mornin’.” As they rose and started toward the door, Ken stopped and touched his uncle’s arm. “My brothers have no’ heard a word about this scheme?”

“You’re the first person who’s been privy to my thoughts on the matter. I haven’t even brought it up with Luna.”

“In that case, I should probably consider your offer an honor.” Grey nodded. “And were it no’ for the part about how I’m expendable, I would.” He laughed.

“That is not what I said.”

“’
Tis.”

“Well, it’s not what I meant to say and you know it. You’re the best wolf for the job.”

“How many are you sending?”

“I’m thinking four plus an ox driver to take supplies, clothes, you know.”

“Four. One from each colony.”

“Plus a driver. I have somebody in mind.”

“A team thrown together can be an unruly team.”

“Again, that’s why you’re right for this.”

Ken narrowed his eyes. “Enough flattery. What is it we’d be lookin’ for?”

Grey turned around, pulled the bottle of Scotch from its hiding place, refilled the glasses and handed one to Ken. He sat back down in a chair by the fire and motioned for Ken to do the same.

“Well, that’s the nature of exploration, isn’t it? You don’t know what you’ll find.”

Ken turned the glass around in his hand. “Spring, you say.”

“Late March. Maybe April?”

“I’ll think about it. Let you know in the mornin’.”

There was a knock at the door.

The king hid his glass and nodded toward Ken’s glass indicating that he should do the same. Ken looked around and finally set his glass underneath the desk.

“Open,” said the king.

Luna poked her head in. “They’re back. Time for dinner. And you may as well bring the glasses to the kitchen to be washed. I know you’ve been in here drinking whiskey.”

She shut the door behind her.

Grey sighed.

Ken laughed and shook his head. “Your mate leads you around by the…”

The king interrupted him, swelling with the power of the alpha. “Stop right there before you say something disrespectful. I’m not just your uncle. I’m also alpha. And well-mated.”

Smiling, Ken said, “Aye. Clearly ye are one lucky wolf.”

The dining area was rustic with log walls and a massive fireplace at the end opposite the window facing the front of the house. It was efficient in its use of space, just enough room to house the long table with bench seating on either side, armchairs at both ends, and not much more. No extraneous furniture. The design was practical because they could easily accommodate guests, without sacrificing a cozy feeling when it was just the family.

The first thing Ken noticed when he entered the room behind his uncle was the presence of someone unexpected, a young female with dirty-blonde hair and eyes so dark they looked black. He tore his gaze away when Win jumped up and came around the table to greet his cousin with laughter and a hearty embrace.

“Heard you’re on corn duty.”

“No’ anymore. Now I’m on empty cart duty.”

Win laughed. “You haven’t met Starfire.” Ken’s eyes returned to the female with the exotic dark eyes. “This is Cloud’s niece. She lives with us.”

Ken nodded.

“Hey,” she said, seeming to have just as much trouble looking away.

“Everybody sit back down,” Luna said. “Food’s getting cold.”

Ken sat at the end of the table next to the king and across from Win. Starfire sat at the other end next to Luna and across from Cloud.

She’d known in her heart that something special was waiting for her in this new land, but she hadn’t anticipated that it might be a male with a Scotia accent. The way he spoke was enchanting, but not more so than the suggestion of curl in his honey-colored hair or the hint of blue in his gray eyes.

She thought she might have seen some interest when he first entered the room, but he hadn’t looked her way since introductions. She knew because she spent most of dinner trying to keep her constant observation surreptitious. It was a fact that didn’t go without notice by Luna and Cloud. They shared a knowing smile.

“Who wants dessert?”

“Dessert?” asked Stalkson Grey.

“Somebody found some late season huckleberries in the foothills and brought some to the king.” She bowed her head in a playful mock gesture. “Landa made pie.”

“Pie,” Ken repeated, eyes looking slightly glazed over.

“What’s the big deal about pie?” Win laughed.

His father directed his attention to him. “There are more wonderful things about this world than you can guess. But there’s no sugar.”

Win lost his smile. “No sugar?”

Grey shrugged. “Look at it this way.” He slapped his abdomen. “You’re going to be fit.”

When they served pie, Grey said, “Don’t expect it to be as sweet as what you’re used to, but it will be good.”

“And good for you,” Luna said.

“You should have told us to bring sugar,” Win said. “We would have told people to leave their sentimental junk behind and bring as much sugar as they could carry.”

“Sounds like a good reason to not tell you to bring sugar,” Luna said.

“You told us to bring whiskey and books, but not sugar?” Win was getting worked up.